25-06-2025
Australian Baseball League club Perth Heat confirm they will not compete this season
Perth Heat, WA's storied and successful baseball team, have withdrawn from the Australian Baseball League.
The breeding ground for the likes of Major League baseballers such as All-Star Liam Hendriks, Luke Hughes and Warwick Saupold, the Heat will not add to their 15 Claxton Shields.
The club have opted against joining a diminished ABL campaign next season, following the exit of two other teams and uncertain futures for another club.
Staff and players were informed by team officials on Wednesday the Heat would not be competing in next season's ABL campaign.
It follows Melbourne Aces decision in May to exit the league in favour of match-ups against Korean baseball sides, while reigning champion Canberra Cavalry cited the lack of certainty over the league's future when they pulled out not long afterwards.
Perth's subsequent departure means the ABL's future appears bleak; Sydney Blue Sox, one of the three remaining teams, currently do not have an owner.
Heartbreakingly, the Heat's final season in the ABL ended with their third straight ABL Championship Series defeat.
More to come.
